- Kevin Sandlin
- May 21, 2021
- 6 Comments
What’s the difference between a binary trigger and a forced reset trigger? Both are “drop in” mechanisms for standard AR-15 rifles and pistols. Both produce a near full-auto experience. Each one is legal. Both types are relatively available, though either one is very hard to get at what one might call a reasonable price without fighting a frenzy of super-ready clickers waiting by their device to snag a handful the very second they go on sale via ecommerce. But that’s where the similarities end. Below is a brief description of how each one works. From these explanations, the difference between binary and forced reset triggers is clear.
UPDATE 24MAR2022: In an open letter to all FFL Dealers, the ATF has officially declared that FRTs are machine guns. The statement is as follows:
ATF’s examination found that some FRT devices allow a firearm to automatically expel more than one shot with a single, continuous pull of the trigger. For this reason, ATF has concluded that FRTs that function in this way are a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and hence, ATF has classified these devices as a “machinegun” as defined by the NFA and GCA.
“Machinegun” is defined under 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b) and 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(23) as—
Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.
Under 26 U.S.C. § 5871, any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of the NFA may be fined up to $10,000 per violation and is subject to imprisonment for a term of up to ten years. Further, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 5872, any machinegun possessed or transferred in violation of the NFA is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Under 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), any person who violates § 922(o) may be sent to prison for up to 10 years and fined up to $250,000 per person or $500,000 per organization.
BOTTOM LINE: The ATF has declared that FRTs are now subject to the GCA and NFA, and thus require the same tax, stamp, and paperwork as other NFA items such as SBRs or suppressors. Here’s the Reddit discussion on the same matter.
A binary trigger works by using the reset action to fire another round. What’s that mean? When a regular trigger in a semiautomatic rifle resets, meaning returns to its original position after you fire one round, the mechanism resets and is ready for the user to pull the trigger again to fire another round.
A binary trigger uses the reset spring action to actually strike another cartridge. Your finger pulls the trigger, and the rifle fires a round. Then when your finger lets off the trigger, the rifle fires another round. Pull – Fire – Release – Fire – Pull – Fire – Release – Fire.
A forced reset trigger does exactly what its name implies. It forces the trigger to reset itself. It literally moves your finger forward as it resets. Therefore, if you maintain a constant pressure on the trigger, it will reset and then your pressure will pull it again. Pull-Fire-Pull-Fire-Pull-Fire.
Forced resets have built in “settings” (if it’s right to call them that) for single shot and for bypassing the rapid fire process. If you pull harder on the trigger than is necessary to fire a shot, it will fire one round, and then cease. Also, if you pull very lightly and release, you’ll only fire one round.
I asked our Gunsmith, Josh Mallet, about these triggers, their differences, and his preference. Josh was clear: “Binary triggers are not safe. I won’t install ’em.” Josh says there are too many moving and unstable parts in a binary trigger, and he’s seen far too many of them malfunction, regardless of maker or brand.
6 thoughts on “Binary Trigger vs. Forced Reset Trigger”
Is the ATF okay with these type of trigger and where can I get one?
Reply
That’s up for debate at the moment. Rare Breed Triggers, the makers of the FRT15 forced reset trigger, is suing the ATF after the ATF raided their facility last fall and declared the FRT a “machine gun”. Rare Breed contends that the ATF’s evaluation of the FRT15 is faulty and incorrect. This past week, the ATF raided several dealers of both WOT and Rare Breed triggers, confiscating the triggers from the dealers and distributors. There is a lengthy court battle coming, but in the meantime, the ATF is using its authority to attempt to remove FRTs from circulation, while Rare Breed and WOT fight the ATF in the courts.
Reply
Rare Breed is still selling FRT’s on their website. In stock items only, no backorders.
The way this whole mess is playing out, the FRT abides by NFA laws regarding machine guns. One trigger pull per round fired.
This stink the ATF is making is that the ATF changed the definition of a machine gun from “one trigger pull per round fired” to “one function of the trigger per round fired”.
This change by the ATF, of course, is highly illegal as only congress has the authority to change the laws.
You can thank Donald Trump’s “bump stock ban” executive order all the fudds seemed to not care about.So are they legal? Yes.
Are they still being sold? Yes.
Is the ATF trying to unlawfully ban them anyway? Yes.Reply
The verbiage in the GCA is ‘per function of the trigger’ not ‘per trigger pull’.
Which is what makes the binaries legal (firing is one function, resetting is a separate function).
Devices that mechanically enable bump-fire (Forced-reset trigger, Atkins Accelerator, ‘bump stocks’) typically get classified as machine-guns eventually… FRTs are not the first such device operating on this principle to be so classified.
Reply
My question…plainly, succinctly, and simply….Can I legally own, install, and use a bumpfire stock on my AR-15?
Reply
We’re not attorneys, so we can’t answer legal questions such as that. Sorry.
Reply
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